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N0KFQ > TODAY 01.08.14 15:58l 49 Lines 2106 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 32420_N0KFQ
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - Aug 1
Path: IZ3LSV<IR1UAW<IQ5KG<I0OJJ<N6RME<N0KFQ
Sent: 140801/1459Z 32420@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA BPQK1.4.60
Aug 1, 1943:
PT-109 sinks; Lieutenant Kennedy is instrumental in saving crew
On this day in 1943, a Japanese destroyer rams an American PT
(patrol torpedo) boat, No. 109, slicing it in two. The
destruction is so massive other American PT boats in the area
assume the crew is dead. Two crewmen were, in fact, killed, but
11 survived, including Lt. John F. Kennedy.
Japanese aircraft had been on a PT boat hunt in the Solomon
Islands, bombing the PT base at Rendova Island. It was essential
to the Japanese that several of their destroyers make it to the
southern tip of Kolombangara Island to get war supplies to forces
there. But the torpedo capacity of the American PTs was a
potential threat. Despite the base bombing at Rendova, PTs set
out to intercept those Japanese destroyers. In the midst of
battle, Japan's Amaqiri hit PT-109, leaving 11 crewmen
floundering in the Pacific.
After five hours of clinging to debris from the decimated PT
boat, the crew made it to a coral island. Kennedy decided to swim
out to sea again, hoping to flag down a passing American boat.
None came. Kennedy began to swim back to shore, but strong
currents, and his chronic back condition, made his return
difficult. Upon reaching the island again, he fell ill. After he
recovered, the PT-109 crew swam to a larger island, what they
believed was Nauru Island, but was in fact Cross Island. They met
up with two natives from the island, who agreed to take a message
south. Kennedy carved the distress message into a coconut shell:
"Nauru Is. Native knows posit. He can pilot. 11 alive need small
boat."
The message reached Lieutenant Arthur Evans, who was watching the
coast of Gomu Island, located next to an island occupied by the
Japanese. Kennedy and his crew were paddled to Gomu. A PT boat
then took them back to Rendova. Kennedy was ultimately awarded
the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, for gallantry in action.
The coconut shell used to deliver his message found a place in
history_and in the Oval Office.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
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